glub glub

The world’s largest aquarium opened in Atlanta, Georgia in November 2005. The Ocean Voyager exhibit holds six million gallons of salt water and 100,000 fish; two of which are whale sharks, currently 20ft long and expected to grow to 40+ft! Fantastic! I want to go, sit down, and pretend I’m a rock at the bottom of the ocean. I’ll watch as the fish, sharks, stingrays, and whatever else swims about me. I will be a part of the ocean! First thing I do when I get settled back in Chicago, learn to scuba dive.

Sarah Tucker

I watched my first scary movie, It, at Sarah Tucker’s house. She had a slumber party for her birthday. Us girls all piled into her living room in our sleeping bags. We screamed in unison then laughed the silliness of it all. I spent every lunch with Sarah Tucker during middle school. We sat by a bush that always attracted bees during the summer. Sarah Tucker wore Hypercolor shirts and Converse shoes. I remember her being very creative and unique. She was even a little odd, but that’s what made her Sarah and why I liked her. In high school she expressed herself in extraordinary dress and personality. Sarah was voted Most Unique at the end of our senior year. We went our separate ways in high school, but I always wished we’d stayed friends.

Sarah Tucker was killed in a hit and run accident a few weeks ago. The news was crushing. The last time I saw her was sometime in high school, some eight plus years ago. The last time I talked to her was at the start of high school, some twelve years ago. People are constantly coming in and out of our lives. We just assume those that leave us go on living normal lives; just as we are. They’re accomplishing their goals, exploring new places, and finding love. I feel so sad that the world lost Sarah’s unique charm and energy. I feel guilty for not thinking of her more than a handful of times in the last eight years, for not keeping in touch with her throughout and after high school. I feel pain at the loss of Sarah’s potential life and contributions. I feel angry that she was lost in such meaningless and awful manner.

Frank reminded me that just because I didn’t think of Sarah often, it doesn’t mean that I didn’t care about her. Unexpectedly, it is comforting to know that my memory of Sarah is still rather vivid. She will live forever in my memory. Sarah Tucker’s death makes me want to reach out to all of those who have entered my life and then left. There are those who have touched my life and left lasting impressions. There are even those that I know will part from my life. No matter how fleeting, I do care about them. I do think of them. I just wish there was a way for me to let them know that I miss them.

I remember you - Megan Toeniskoetter, Kylee Vicha, Rebecca Beddingfield, Julia O’Conner, Joel Kaupert, Luis Rosas, Kyle Smith, Chris Smith, Jim, Winston, Tammy Lee, Hank, Kimberly Banks, Jennifer Chen.